View finder system



May l, 1934. J. A."BALL ET AL 1,957,128

vIEw FINDER SYSTEM l Filed Aug. 20. 19:51

Patented May 1, 1934 'UNITED STATES PATENT oFFice VIEW FINDER SYSTEM ration of Delaware Application August 20,

Claims.

This invention relates to cameras for taking photographic pictures in natural colors which employ light-dividing units as, for example, described in Patent #1,889,030, issued Nov. 29,

5 1932 to Joseph A. Ball. In its main aspect, the invention contemplates the utilization of certain properties of the aforementioned light-' dividing unit for purposes of combining it with simple optical elements to form a view finder which is particularly suited for purposes of color photography, especially color cinematography. Its main object is a view finder arrangement which enables the operator not merely to see a more or less accurate reduced view of the object field to be photographed, but to see the images as they are actually recorded on the photographic emulsions of the color separation camera. Other objects are to provide a view finder for color separation cameras which permits the viewing of the images produced by the main optical system of the camera, to avoid detrimental effects due to reflections of the taking lens system in the light-dividing system, to permit observation of the images of the object field in the exact frame as photographed and in colors of substantially the same values as actually recorded, and to provide a view finder of this kind which permits theoperator to look into the view nder from the back of the camera. These and additional objects will be apparent from the following explanation illustrating the genus of the invention by reference to two concrete embodiments. The description refers to a drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same embodiment with the lens system omitted; and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view corresponding to Fig. 1, of another embodiment of the invention, illustrated in so far as it varies from Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the principal optical elements of a camera for taking color separation negatives with substantially identical optical axes, as used in the embodiment herein described, are a suitable objective lens system O and a lightdividing prism system P with a partially transparent refiector M for dividing the incident light beam Linto a direct component beam R and a reflected component beam S. After passing appropriate lters G and MG the light beams record their respective images on emulsions 11, 12,13 supported on suitable bases 1. 2, 3 in the apertures of fllm gates. In the present embodiment a pair of emulsions anda single emulsion are shown in the paths of the component beamsA respectively, in

1931, Serial No. 558,194

accordance with one modification of the invention as described and claimed in the above identified patent of Joseph A. Ball, but it is understood that any desired number of light sensitive elements may be employed and also that the present invention is not limited to this particular form of the light splitting system nor to color cinematography.

The face 22 of pr sin unit P is not obstructed by any elements of the system and through this face both film apertures of the camera can be observed, the aperture with two films directly and the aperture with one film as reflected by the semi-transparent mirror M. It is therefore possible to observe through face 22 an image which is additionally recomposed from the aperture images through the taking filters and appears therefore substantially in the same color values in which it will be finally reproduced, thus enabling the camera operator to judge color values, exposure, focus, etc., to advantage. This can be accomplished by looking directly towards face 22, for instance with a small viewing telescope, but in order to make the view better accessible, a reecting element, as for example the prism K with reiiecting surface 3l (Fig. l), is arranged opposite face 22 at an inclination of approximately 45 thereto. This prism reects the image into the direction of the main optical axis, namely that of the objective lens system O as indicated by ray V. It is then conveniently enlarged by any su`table telescopic means such as positive system M and negative system N. The positions of the images at the various parts of the system are indicated by arrows 5l, 52, 53, 54, 55. 56, 58 which are, however, not drawn exactly in the image planes nor in their correct sizes. The object field 51 is reversed by the objective which in cooperation with the partially refecting surface M produces the two images 52 and 58;V 52 is viewed directly and 58 indirectly, in position 53 which is reversed by reector 31 into position 54, as indicated by rays 66 and 67. 54 is again laterally lreversed by the telescope which creats a virtual image 55. Image 55 is correct in the vertical dimension since the two image reversing systems O and M produce together an erect image of the object fieldythe refiector planes being vertical and therefore not affecting the verticals of the images. In order to obtain a correct view of the object field, image 55 is laterally reversed by means of a rhomboid prism D (sometimes called Dove prism) which comprises two refracting surfaces 44 and 45, and a reflecting surface 46 which together reverse one dimension of the image, as indicated by rays 61 and 62. The eye-piece E of l r is suitah" 'located the baci; ie cainera opposite the taking system, enaoles the operator sta ding at the rear e cai-ners to 100i: di ectly at the lrns in the ch is very helpful in lining up the taking a scene to get side lines. i ad .i ,ion to -e possibility of o'othe optical characteristics as described ie Dove prism has an additional func- Yill ce eiipl ed hereinafter.

point i or the as el and reflected 3. Likewise, ray 'al ie Ender *i surface 31 is placed "n order to eliminate lens systein ifi'oiy raised above system as shown in downwardly toward the angle. The necessary elevais reduced by the double reoer beam as indicated in Fig.

2 showing the twice retract-ed ray Eli. The rotation of the iinage resulting from the fact that alcove the aperture axis oi the objective lens sysican oe corrected slightly rotating the Dove prism, thereby carrying the image around with the prism.

instead o using Dove prism for laterally reversing the vietv finder image, a so-oa-lled penta risin can he used in the place or" the prism K oi ig. l. This mod'cation is shown in Fig. 3 Where is a pente prism of the nell-known construe" tion. with reflecting faces 3G and '37. Rays 57 and 59 indicate hovf the image 53 is reversed into position 60, so that an additional reversing device n the nder eyi Secc becomes unnecesscy.

It should ce understood that the present disclosure i for the pu Jose of illustration only and that this invention i cludes all modifications and equivalents which fall Within the scope o the` appended claims.

tion oi the light to one plane and transmitting a portion the light to the other plane, and a Finder directed toward the hack of said surface for concomitantly viewing said images in register,

- one o1` said images oeing viewed through the surface and the other Toy reection from the haci; of the surface.

2. An optical systeni for concoinitantly forming images of a scene in diierent planes comprising partial reflecting surface for dividing a light beam incident thereto from the iront, reflecting a portion oi the light. to one plane and transmitting a portion oi the light to the other plane in the direction of said incident hea-rn, and a nder directed toward the back of said surface for con- Lib cortantly viewing said images ni register, one of images being viewed through the surface and the other by reflection from the haelt of the surface, the optical axis of the finder being inclined relative to the hack oi the partial reflector' at an angle different from the angle of incidence oi said direction with the iront of the partial reiiector, to avoid reflection of a lens ghost to t .e finder.

3. fin optical system for concomitantly forining images of a scene in different planes comprism ing a partial reflecting su ce for dividing a. light hearn incident thereto from the front, refleeting a portion. of the light to one plane and transmitting a portion the light to the other plane in the direction lnder directed toward for conconiitantly view race and the oil ti i from the haci: of the surace, the optical airis of the finder honig inclined relative to the back of the partial rehector, at an angle different from the angle or incidence or" said direction with the iront of the partial reiiector, to avoid reflection of a lens ghost to the lnder, and means for counteracting the image rotation produced by the aforesaid ditference in angles.

4. An optical system for concomitantly forming images of a scene in different planes comprising a prism set having an interior partial reflecting surface for dividing the light incident thereto from the iront, reecting a portion of the light to one plane and transmitting a portion of the light to the other plane, and a nder for concoinitantly viewing said images in register, the finder being directed toward the back of said surface so that one of said images is viewed through the surface and the other by reflection from the hack of the surface, said surface hiscct ing the angle between the tvo faces or' the prism set through which the iight enters from the o`ojectield and through which light passes to the viev nder respectiyely` 5, in ootical system for concomitantly i'orinn ing images of scene in diilerent planes com-- prising a prism set having an interior partial reflecting surface for dividing the light incident thereto from the iront, reflecting a portion ci' the light to one plane and transmitting a portion of the light to the other plane, and a :Finder for con cornitantly viewing said images in register, the nder being directed toward the nach oi said surface s0 that one of said images is viewed through the surface and the other oy reflection il' from the hack .of the surface, said surface hiecting the angle between the tivo faces 0f the prism set through which the light enters from the object field and through which light passes to the view lnder respectively, and said faces making different angles with the axes of the light beams passing therethrough respectively.

JOSEPH A. BALL. GERALD FRANKLIN RACKETT. 

